Pocket-knife



(No Model.)

R. H. FRANKLIN.

v POCKET KNIFE. 7 No. 475,306; Patented May 24, I892.

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RHODOLPI-I H. FRANKLIN,: OF BROOKLYN, NEIV YORK.

POCKET-KNIFE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 475,306, dated May 24, 1892.

Application filed $eptember 15, 1891, Serial No. 405,812. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, RHODOLPI-I H. FRANK- LIN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sheath-Knives, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improved means of actuating the devices employed to hold a blade that slides out and in the sheath-handle lengthwise for allowing the blade to shift from one position to the other and securing the blade in either position, and it also relates to an improved construction of spring-j aws for engaging notches in the sides of the shank of the blade for holding it when projected for use and for confining it when shifted back into the case, all as hereinafter fully described, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is aside elevation of my improved sheath-knife with one side of the handle cut apart from the rest, the blade being extended as for use. Fig. 2 is an elevation in a plane at right. angles to that of Fig. 1 with a side of the handle similarly cut apart from the rest and with a part of the spring-jaw opener broken out. Fig. 3 is a view similar to that of Fig. 2 with the spring-jaw opener entire. Fig. 4 is an elevation same as Fig. 3, showing a modified arrangement of the spring-jaws. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the knife com plete with the jaws as in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. Fig. 6 is a transverse section on line 0c 00, Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the knife in complete form with another modification of the spring-jaws. Fig. 8 is an end view of another form of handle that may be used. Fig. 9 is a side elevation with one side of the handle removed, showing different means for securing the blade, the actuator therefore being the same. In this case the blade is represented in full lines within the case and in dotted lines in the extended position..

The sheath or handle may consist of a fiattened tube a, or it may be cast in the form shown in end View at a in Fig. 8. In either case there is a suitable chamber 1), extending lengthwise of the handle for the blade 0 to slide in. The means which I prefer for securing the blade consist of spring-jaws, as cl, Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, or d, Fig. '7, which ongage in transverse notches or grooves e in the sides of the shank of the blade to hold the blade out in the position for use and close together in front of the point of the blade to confine it in the sheath when retired therein; but'I may employthe pawl f, Fig. 9, said pawl pivoted to the handle at g with a notch h in the edge of the blade in which the pawl will engage, as indicated in dotted lines, to secure the projected blade for use, and which will close in front of the point of the blade to confine it in the handle.

Whether the jaws or the pawl be used I employ an actuator therefore, consisting of the push-rod 1', extending along'the handle inside at one edge of the blade to the other end of the handle and there having the push-headj projecting from the open end of the handle suitably for being pressed inward to release the blade and let it drop out the proper length for use, and so that by placing the knife upright with said head on a table or desk and pressing the handle downward it will in like manner release the blade and allow it to drop into the handle. To open the jaws,I provide said push-rod with the taper-head 7c in suitable relation to the jaws to be forced between the heads of the jaws, which are made to proj ect a little beyond the edge of the shank Z, as at m, so that the taper head lying between the edge of the shank of the blade and the inner wall of the blade-chamber of the handle, and thus being suitably confined between said projections of the jaws, will force them apart when the push-rod is thrust forward. The grip of the jaws on the taper sides of the head forces the head and the push-rod back to the normal position, leaving the jaws free to close. To shift the pawl f for opening and closing the sheath, said push-rod is jointed to it at 'n, so that pressure on the head j in like manner swings it open, and a coiled spring 0 is fitted under the head to throw the pushrod and pawlback. The springo is in this example seated on the rivets p; but any other form of seat may be provided.

In Figs. 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6 I represent the spring-jaws e fastened at the inner ends, as by rivets q, toa short metallic keepers, nearly surrounding the shank g of the blade, and through which the blade slides freely, said keeper consisting of a thin plate, bent in conformity with the shape of the flattened tubular handle, except that one of the narrow sides is left open, as shown in cross-section in Fig. 6, said keeper being made in suitable size to be inserted and to fit snugly in one end of the handle and be secured therein in any approved way for attaching the spring-jaws, the handle being slotted, as at u, to receive the shanks of the jaws and to allow free space for them to open. The open side of this keeper is for allowing the head of the pushrod to bear against the edge of the shank of the blade, whereby the projections m of the jaws to embrace the taper head of the pushrod are shorter than they would otherwise have to be. The edges of the keeper-plate have projections Q) beyond the edge of the blade-shank and behind the shoulders to of the head of the push-rod, which stop the back movement of the push-rod at the proper limit. The keeper may be .fastened by a drop of solder in a hole through the handle, as at w, or by an indentation made with a counterpunch and the like; but the jaws may be fast? ened to the handle without the keeper, as at y, Fig. 4, or they may be produced as an integral part of the handle, as at d, Fig. 7.

In case it is preferred to employ a castlnetal handle, as a, Fig. 8, lateral chamber, as a, maybe produced in the sides of the handle for the shanks of the spring-jaws, the metal being of suitable thickness to afiord room for them within integral portions of the handle inclosing them. In this case the shanks of the jaws will be riveted at the inner end to the handle.

I claim- 1. The combination, in a sheath-knife, of the hollow handle, the blade sliding lengthwise therein, fastening devices at one end of the handle to secure the blade, and an actuator for said fastening devices, consisting of the push-rod, substantially as described.

2. The combination, in a sheath-knife, of the hollow handle, the blade sliding lengthwise therein and having notches in the sides,

a pair of spring-jaws to secure'the blade, and an actuator for the jaws, consisting of the taper-headed push-rod adapted to be forced between the jaws, substantially as described.

3. The combination, in a sheath-knife, of the hollow handle, the blade sliding lengthwise therein and having notches in the sides, a pair of spring-jaws to secure the blade, the keeper having the spring-jaws connected to it and being secured in the handle, and an actuator for opening the spring-jaws, substantially as described.

Signed at New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 1st day 60 of August, A. D. 1891.

RHODOLPH H. FRANKLIN.

Witnesses:

W. J. MORGAN, W. B. EARLL.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 475,306, granted May 24, 1892, u the application of Rhodolph E. Franklin, of Brooklyn, New York, for an improvem in Pocket-Knives, an error appears in the printedspecifioation requiring the fol] ing correction, viz.: In line66, page 1, the-word therefore should read there and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed, countersigned, and sealed this 7th day of J nne, A. D1892.

[SEAL] CYRUS BUSSEY,

Assistant Secretary of the Interio Oountersigned W. E. SIMONDS,

Commissioner of Patents. 

